System for removably housing and aligning components in a towed array

Abstract

A cartridge carrying electronic or other components is removably mounted in the breech of an adaptor module connected either in a streamer section or between opposing ends of adjacent streamer sections of a towed array. The adapter module is provided with channels for loosely guiding all but one strain member, one strain member being clamped to the module, with the longitudinal axis of the module breech being established by the longitudinal axis of the clamped strain member such that alignment of the cartridge is uniquely keyed to the single clamped strain member, the loose mounting of the unclamped strain members preventing differential forces being applied to the adapter module. In one embodiment, a spring-loaded pin and shuttle connector arrangement severs connection for an empty breech and provides for both point contact to an inserted cartridge and relatively long leakage paths so that any entrained sea water will not short out the adapter module or connector system.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In combination: a streamer section;   an adapter module coupled to at least one portion of said section and having an exterior surface faired with the exterior surface of said streamer section, said module having a breech and at least one strain member channel running therethrough;   at least one strain member in said strain member channel and means for clamping said strain member in said channel to said module;   a cartridge adapted to be removably mounted in said breech, said cartridge having a surface which is faired to the exterior surface of said module adjacent said breech when said cartridge is mounted in said breech; and   means for removably locking said cartridge in said breech.   
     
     
       2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the longitudinal axis of said channel is parallel to the longitudinal axis of said breech, wherein the walls of said breech are parallel to the longitudinal axis of said breech, wherein at least a portion of the wall of said cartridge contacts the adjacent wall of said breech when said cartridge is mounted in said breech, said portion of the wall of said cartridge being parallel to the longitudinal axis of said cartridge, said clamped strain member establishing the longitudinal axis of said cartridge. 
     
     
       3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said module includes additional strain member channels and additional strain members, each running through a different one of said additional channels, said additional strain members being carried in associated channels in a loose fit. 
     
     
       4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said locking means includes over-the-center lever-actuated means including a lever pivoted to said module for moving said cartridge in said breech. 
     
     
       5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said cartridge includes an aft tab having a slot therein and wherein said locking means includes means coacting with said slot for moving said cartridge in two directions responsive to the movement of said lever in different directions. 
     
     
       6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said over-the-center lever-actuated means includes linkage means having a pin at one end adapted to coact with said slot pivotally, said linkage being attached to said lever at the other end thereof. 
     
     
       7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said module includes a module-carried electrical connector having a housing mounted at one end of said breech, and wherein said cartridge includes a cartridge-carried electrical connector adapted to mate with said module-carried electrical connector when said cartridge is mounted in said breech. 
     
     
       8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said module-carried electrical connector includes a spring-biased shuttle mounted for reciprocation within said module-carried connector housing such that the mounting of a cartridge in said breech results in the movement of said shuttle against its spring biasing to the end of said module-carried connector away from said breech, said shuttle including at least one spring-loaded electrically conductive pin assembly running longitudinally therethrough, said pin assembly including a first pin projecting from one end of said shuttle away from said breech. 
     
     
       9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said module includes an electrical cable therethrough and wherein said module-carried connector includes a connector terminal at the end thereof away from said breech, said terminal being connected to said cable, said first pin adapted to contact said terminal when said shuttle is moved towards said terminal responsive to the mounting of said cartridge in said breech, said spring-biased shuttle moving said first pin away from said terminal for a cartridgeless breech, thereby to disconnect said module for a cartridgeless breech. 
     
     
       10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said pin assembly includes a second pin electrically connected to said first pin and projecting towards said breech, said cartridge including a nose having a channel therein opened at one end to receive said second pin, said channel having an electrical contact at the closed end thereof adapted to coact with an inserted second pin. 
     
     
       11. The combination of claim 10 wherein said pin assembly includes a cylindrical housing and wherein said pins are mounted at either end of said cylindrical housing, said cylindrical housing including means for spring biasing said pins outwardly and detent means for preventing the escape of said pins from said cylindrical housing. 
     
     
       12. The combination of claim 11 wherein said shuttle is electrically nonconductive and wherein said cylindrical housing and pins are electrically conductive. 
     
     
       13. The combination of claim 10 wherein said shuttle is electrically nonconductive and includes at least two electrically conductive pin assemblies, wherein said nose is electrically non-conductive and has at least two of said channels, wherein the pins adapted to project into said channels include insulating sleeves from said shuttle to said pin ends, whereby a shorting path from one pin end to the other pin end is elongated due to the electrically non-conductive nose and sleeves. 
     
     
       14. The combination of claim 13 wherein said sleeves form a water-tight seal with associated channels when said pins are inserted in said channels. 
     
     
       15. Apparatus adapted to be connected to a streamer section comprising: an adapter module having an exterior surface faired with the exterior surface of said streamer section, said module having a breech for receiving a cartridge adapted to be removably mounted in said breech and at least one strain member channel running therethrough, at least one strain member in said strain member channel and means for clamping said strain member in said channel to said module, said cartridge having a surface which is faired to the exterior surface of said module adjacent said breech when said cartridge is mounted in said breech, and means for removably locking said cartridge in said breech.   
     
     
       16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the longitudinal axis of said channel is parallel to the longitudinal axis of said breech, wherein the walls of said breech are parallel to the longitudinal axis of said breech, wherein at least a portion of the wall of said cartridge contacts the adjacent wall of said breech when said cartridge is mounted in said breech, said portion of the wall of said cartridge being parallel to the longitudinal axis of said cartridge, said clamped strain member establishing the longitudinal axis of said cartridge. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said module includes additional strain member channels and additional strain members, each running through a different one of said additional channels, said additional strain members being carried in associated channels in a loose fit. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said locking means includes over-the-center lever-actuated means including a lever pivoted to said module for moving said cartridge in said breech. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said cartridge includes an aft tab having a slot therein and wherein said locking means includes means coacting with said slot for moving said cartridge in two directions responsive to the movement of said lever in different directions. 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said over-the-center lever-actuated means includes linkage means having a pin at one end adapted to coact with said slot pivotally, said linkage being attached to said lever at the other end thereof. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said module includes a module-carried electrical connector having a housing mounted at one end of said breech, and wherein said cartridge includes a cartridge-carried electrical connector adapted to mate with said module-carried electrical connector when said cartridge is mounted in said breech. 
     
     
       22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said module-carried electrical connector includes a spring-biased shuttle mounted for reciprocation within said module-carried connector housing such that the mounting of a cartridge in said breech results in the movement of said shuttle against its spring biasing to the end of said module-carried connector away from said breech, said shuttle including at least one spring-loaded electrically conductive pin assembly running longitudinally therethrough, said pin assembly including a first pin projecting from one end of said shuttle away from said breech. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said module includes an electrical cable therethrough and wherein said module-carried connector includes a connector terminal at the end thereof away from said breech, said terminal being connected to said cable, said first pin adapted to contact said terminal when said shuttle is moved towards said terminal responsive to the mounting of said cartridge in said breech, said spring-biased shuttle moving said first pin away from said terminal for a cartridgeless breech, thereby to disconnect said module for a cartridgeless breech. 
     
     
       24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said pin assembly includes a second pin electrically connected to said first pin and projecting towards said breech, said cartridge including a nose having a channel therein opened at one end to receive said second pin, said channel having an electrical contact at the closed end thereof adapted to coact with an inserted second pin. 
     
     
       25. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said pin assembly includes a cylindrical housing and wherein said pins are mounted at either end of said cylindrical housing, said cylindrical housing including means for spring biasing said pins outwardly and detent means for preventing the escape of said pins from said cylindrical housing. 
     
     
       26. The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said shuttle is electrically non-conductive and wherein said cylindrical housing and pins are electrically conductive. 
     
     
       27. The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said shuttle is electrically non-conductive and includes at least two electrically conductive pin assemblies, wherein said nose is electrically non-conductive and has at least two of said channels, wherein the pins adapted to project into said channels include insulating sleeves from said shuttle to said pin ends, whereby a shorting path from one pin end to the other pin end is elongated due to the electrically non-conductive nose and sleeves. 
     
     
       28. The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said sleeves form a water-tight seal with associated channels when said pins are inserted in said channels. 
     
     
       29. In combination: a streamer section;   an adapter module coupled to at least one portion of said section, said module having a breech and at least one strain member channel running therethrough;   at least one strain member in said strain member channel and means for clamping said strain member in said channel to said module;   a cartridge adapted to be removably mounted in said breech; and   means for removably locking said cartridge in said breech.   
     
     
       30. The combination of claim 29 wherein the longitudinal axis of said channel is parallel to the longitudinal axis of said breech, wherein the walls of said breech are parallel to the longitudinal axis of said breech, wherein at least a portion of the wall of said cartridge contacts the adjacent wall of said breech when said cartridge is mounted in said breech, said portion of the wall of said cartridge being parallel to the longitudinal axis of said cartridge, said clamped strain member establishing the longitudinal axis of said cartridge. 
     
     
       31. The combination of claim 30 wherein said module includes additional strain member channels and additional strain members, each running through a different one of said additional channels, said additional strain members being carried in associated channels in a loose fit. 
     
     
       32. The combination of claim 29 wherein said breech is longer than said cartridge and wherein said means for removably locking said cartridge in said breech urges said cartridge towards one end of said breech. 
     
     
       33. The combination of claim 29 wherein one end of said breech includes an electrical connector having at least one connector terminal exposed in said breech and further including means for preventing shorting of said electrical terminal to any other electrical conductor for a cartridgeless breech. 
     
     
       34. The combination of claim 33 wherein said electrical connector includes a spring biased shuttle mounted for reciprocation in said breech ahead of said electrical connector, said breech having a portion extending towards said electrical connector, said shuttle being sealed to said portion and being movable towards said electrical connector upon the mounting of a cartridge in said breech such that said shuttle is moved against its spring biasing towards the end of said breech carrying said electrical connector, said shuttle including at least one electrically conductive assembly running longitudinally therethrough, said assembly including a first portion projecting from one end of said shuttle, and adapted to contact said terminal when said shuttle is moved towards said electrical contact. 
     
     
       35. The combination of claim 34 wherein said spring-biased shuttle moves said first assembly portion away from said terminal for a cartridgeless breech, thereby to disconnect said module for a cartridgeless breech. 
     
     
       36. The combination of claim 35 wherein said assembly includes a second portion electrically connected to said first portion and projecting in a direction opposite, said cartridge including a nose having a channel therein opened at one end to receive said second portion, said channel having an electrical contact adapted to coact with an inserted second portion. 
     
     
       37. The combination of claim 36 wherein said assembly includes a cylindrical housing and wherein said portions include pins mounted at either end of said cylindrical housing, said cylindrical housing including means for spring biasing said pin portions outwardly and detent means for preventing the escape of said pin portions from said cylindrical housing. 
     
     
       38. The combination of claim 37 wherein said pins are pointed. 
     
     
       39. The combination of claim 37 wherein said shuttle is electrically nonconductive and includes at least two electrically conductive pin assemblies, wherein said nose is electrically nonconductive and has at least two of said channels, wherein the pin portions adapted to project into said channels include insulating sleeves from said shuttle to the ends of said pin portions, whereby a shorting path from one pin end to the other pin is elongated due to the electrically nonconductive nose and sleeves. 
     
     
       40. The combination of claim 39 wherein said sleeve forms a water tight seal with associated cartridge nose channels once the pin ends are inserted into respective channels. 
     
     
       41. ApparAtus adapted to be connected to a streamer section comprising: an adapter module having a breech for receiving a cartridge adapted to be removably mounted in said breech and at least one strain member channel running therethrough wherein the longitudinal axis of said channel is parallel to the longitudinal axis of said breech, wherein the walls of said breech are parallel to the longitudinal axis of said breech, wherein at least a portion of the wall of said cartridge contacts the adjacent wall of said breech when said cartridge is mounted in said breech, said portion of the wall of the cartridge being parallel to the longitudinal axis of said cartridge; and   at least one strain member in said strain member channel and means for clamping said strain member in said channel to said module, said clamped strain member establishing the longitudinal axis of said cartridge; and   means for removably locking said cartridge in said breech.